Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

maternity prostitute - continued

118 replies

curlychips · 07/07/2011 16:56

Hi everyone

Firstly, thank you so much to everyone who offered advice on my previous thread ('H thinks I'm a lazy, gold-digging prostitute for wanting a year's maternity leave'); I asked MN to remove the thread because I revealed a large amount of personal information and became worried someone from RL would identify me. Apologies if I didn't reply to later posts - I think MN removed the thread before I read them.

So, since then, I have been feeling extremely wobbly as the overwhelming view (ok, unanimous) was that H is a twat.

Based on a recommendation from kenobi, I have just emailed a counsellor - I'm hoping she can help me with the massive anxiety of walking away from a marriage and from TTC with IVF in a few months. I thought my life had a plan and now it seems like everything might be up in the air.

I need to know whether this is my only chance to conceive - I know it will be grim having a baby with H, but surely better than having no baby at all, ever. If the endo gets into my womb, I am well and truly screwed.

I don't even know whether I actually want a baby now or not. I did, but now I associate it with fear and anxiety - H has made me feel like having a baby ruins your life, plunges you into poverty, traps you at home forever (although I actually like being at home), ruins your body etc. I don't care if I stop being a size 8, but he is waving around the implicit threat that he won't want to have sex with me any more if I am over a size 8. Charming.

Also the thought of meeting new men makes my chest hurt. I am only 27 so should get a grip, but I find the whole prospect extremely daunting!

So, how do I cope with this? Also, does having a baby really ruin your life?!

OP posts:
buzzsore · 07/07/2011 17:19

I advise you read some of the threads by people whose lives are made absolutely miserable by their exes, through manipulation and game-playing through the children they had together. It's horrible for both parent and child.

You are 27, even with fertility issues, you have time. You could look at donor sperm if it came to it and be a single mum. To tie yourself to this man by having a baby with him would be a massive mistake.

tiddlerslate · 07/07/2011 17:23

I have seen my beautiful niece have her confidence ruined by her shit of a father who decided a few years ago to start to see his kids again after being violent and mentally abusive to his family for years.

My niece messed up her exams and has major food issues because of her father's constant nasty comments.

It has broken my SIL's heart and almost finished my very frail FIL.

Please don't have a baby with this man. He will have the fight to have time alone with him/her and will mess them up. Can you live with that?

Don't be afraid of being alone. I had two brilliant single years after leaving my ex! I was scared but everyone is scared of the unknown.

If I hadn't had that time to just rediscover me again I wouldn't have been ready to meet my now DH.

CurrySpice · 07/07/2011 17:26

Curly I wish you all the best. You know what's right don't you? You don't really need to ask us in your heart of hearts.

LineRunner is did snigger at you being silly enough to watch countdown :o

Squitten · 07/07/2011 17:28

As you said, YOU grew up with a bad father. Why would you do the same thing to your own child?? You seem to think your life is over but it's not. By staying where you are, you are simply denying yourself the chance for something better.

You are so lucky not to have a child with this man. You can kick him out of your life and make a better one. Please listen to all the women here who are living through the nightmare of kids with horrible men.

KnitterNotTwitter · 07/07/2011 17:42

Curly I read but didn't post on your previous thread.

From what I read your DH isn't a great person and definitley isn't the sort of supportive loving roll-model that you'd want your kids to be around... The trouble is that if he's their father it's very difficult to stop him being around them.

I had my DS at 30 - so you've got plenty of time.

I will also put out there the (untried and unproven) theory that once you were with someone who loved you for who you were and didn't dent your confidence you might find that you don't have fertility issues....

JanMorrow · 07/07/2011 17:52

Curly, yes you are being naive if you think you'll only have to deal with this man when he picks up your child etc.. he will quite naturally want to be consulted over major decisions (ie schools, disipline, holidays, money etc), he will have some sort of custody arrangement so you will need to communicate with him ALLLL the time. Just read some of the threads on here about people with nightmare ex's. He'll never be out of your life.

Mostly though, he will NEVER be out of your child's life. You previously mentioned you have a difficult/abusive father (if I recall correctly, apologies if not). Is that what you want for your future child? The cycle will only repeat itself.

I understand it is enormously difficult to consider a massive change in your life (if you are indeed considering leaving him), especially as you are worried about your fertility.. but please thing of all the plus points of being away from such a toxic man.

Do you want any future children to witness (and grow up thinking it is normal) their father treating their mother so badly?

Life can be SO much better.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 07/07/2011 17:53

Agree with those who have said concentrate on getting your life back, away from him if that's what you decide is best. Despite the other thread, only you can say for sure if that's what you want. It's easy for us to say from the safety of our computer screens.

There is plenty of time for children, however you may feel at this moment.

pearlym · 07/07/2011 17:56

Yuo are only 27, leave this man, he is a controller who has no respect for who yuo are. Yuo will meet someone else, loads of someone elses, who will hopefully love yuo and want to have a family with yuo and care for yuo all. This guy is a nightmare adn it is good that yuo can actually see this. Get out nwo, do not waste any more time and do not have his kids, yuo will be in his power forever, maintenance, custody , access etc ,all will be a battle, also, waht about his genes?

TrillianAstra · 07/07/2011 17:56

What BoF said.

Do not have a child with this man. You are still in your 20s, plenty of time to find someone who is not a twat and wh will treat you and your future children with the respect you deserve.

Here's a pep talk from someone who has been there (not me).

I shall say this only once.

Actually, no I won't, I will keep repeating it until the message gets through.

Every person deserves to have a relationship where they are treated with respect, love and equality.

There is never an excuse for verbal, physical or financial abuse.

If you partner treats you like shit, it is their fault. It is not because of something you have done.

You can't change an abusive man by being 'better' or sticking by him where others haven't, or by changing yourself.

Most people have happy relationships, where disagreements happen and are resolved without resorting to shouting, name calling or violence or screwing someone else.

Most people's partners are happy for them to pursue their own friendships and interests, work and education, have access to money, make decisions.

Most people in a relationship stay faithful. They don't have affairs or cyber-sex or obsessively wank over porn day and night.

Don't be fooled into thinking that dysfunctional relationships are the norm. There are many of them on here, but then people don't tend to ask for advice on healthy relationships, so we hear less about them.

Relationships are not supposed to be hard work, that is a big fat myth. Yes, you should work at your relationship but that is not the same thing at all.

Nobody should live their life in fear of angering their partner, or skirting round issues that might upset him. Or put up with cheating and lying for fear of rocking the boat.

Nobody should 'stay together for the children', or because of your marriage vows. If your husband treats you badly, he has broken the vows. Children are much much happier being brought up by parents who live apart than in an atmosphere of fear and loathing.

Just because you've escaped a level 10 bastard, doesn't mean you should settle for the level 8 one that comes along. The only acceptable level of abuse is none.

Just because all your friends are in bad relationships, doesn't mean that you have to be.

I really want to debunk the myth that all men are bastards. They simply aren't. If you feel that all the men you meet are, it's because you are unconsciously sending out vibes to these men. They can spot a target a mile off.

Be on your own. It is much easier than sticking by a tosser. If you have been in more than one abusive relationship, seek some counselling, you may be co-dependant, or you may be modelling relationships on a warped template, perhaps from childhood.

If he abuses you, he is not a good father. Good fathers don't treat the mother of their children with disrespect.

It doesn't matter how much he says sorry and makes it up to you, if he continues to abuse you those apologies are worthless.

Don't be fooled into thinking the abuse isn't 'bad enough to leave'. If you are treated in any way less than cherished, loved and respected, it is bad enough to leave.

There is never a reason to stay with an abusive man. He won't kill himself if you leave him, he won't take your children, and yes, everybody will believe you.

I probably have loads more to say on the subject but I will leave it there for now.

Much love to everybody.

tralalala · 07/07/2011 17:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

TheOriginalFAB · 07/07/2011 17:58

OP - please don't take this to heart but you don't sound ready to have a baby and could use some maturing. Your husband is a dick and would not make a great father. Once you have a baby with someone you are tied to them forever and will one day have to tell your child why their father doesn't want to see them - if that is the case.

I have 3 children and thought having a baby would be easy as I had been a nanny for a long time. Having a child doesn't always ruin your life but it changes it beyond all recognition and I know trying to do it without DH would be practically undo-able.

TrillianAstra · 07/07/2011 17:59

That's rather rude tralalala. Not a fan of the police are you?

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 07/07/2011 18:06

Curly you only have to read some of the threads about controlling ex's including the one's who try to control how whatever child support money they can be bothered to provide is spent. He will be in your life telling how you can spend, probably expecting you to fit in with him for contact times etc.

You are probably all over the place at the moment with hormones going one way and hopes and dreams the other. Please take some time to get your head together before thinking of having a child, I really doubt he is going to start behaving better when you get pregnant (and are most certainly no longer a size 8).

HHLimbo · 07/07/2011 18:06

Its a good thing you havent had DCs with this man.

In fact, the bad relationship might just be the cause of your infertility (nature's way!).

It will probably be much easier once you have escaped the constant stress, and have a partner who actually behaves like he loves you!

pigletmania · 07/07/2011 18:07

Don't even think about having a baby with this man. You have to put your potential child FIRST, there are so many posters on here from people who had abusive dads as children and the damage it did them, do you want that for your child Hmm. You have had so much great advice on here, you would be mad not to take it. You have a choice whether to stay with your abusive D, your child has NOT!!!!!

You need to see your consellor and get the strength to leave, I really dont know what is stopping you! You are young, great job, intelligent, you do not have the tie of children. Only YOU can make your life better, we can give you advice but its up to you to follow it

MrsPlesWearsAFez · 07/07/2011 18:07

This may sound a little rude, but having read your last thread and then this OP maybe you need the no bullshit approach.

To have a child with this man would be extremely irresponsible and selfish. You are only thinking about yourself, and how it will affect you. Any potential child deserves far better than an abusive shit of a father quite frankly, though you seem to be ignoring that fact entirely.

I think that you would do well to leave your marriage, get some counselling, and grow up a bit.

pigletmania · 07/07/2011 18:09

No curley, it isent always that simple, with a child you will ALWAYS be tied to your H. He might make life difficult for you.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 07/07/2011 18:11

p.s. having kids don't ruin your life but they do change it. Life no longer revolves around what the adults want to do but rather what the family wants and needs. I can't see your DH really adjusting well to that change.

Its been fine most of the time for me and my DH because we were ready to move to the family stage. I love my kids and my kids have enhanced my life and it has been easier because it was the right time for me and DH to have them.

pigletmania · 07/07/2011 18:11

Because your H is very unsupportive its going to be so much worse with a child. Having a child is hard with a supportive partner, let alone with an unsupportive one.

NorfolkNChamberOfSecrets · 07/07/2011 18:12

Get yourself some sperm in a vaster and go it alone! You'll be alone anyway (well hopefully away from this man) so why have a connection with the abusive twunt?

AnAtoZofNowhere · 07/07/2011 18:15

Please do not have a child with an abuser, OP. Even if you have minimal contact with him, the effect on your life will never end. And the impact on your child's life will be huge. Your child may well suffer direct abuse too, he may use your child to get to you. I speak as a child of abusive parents. I'm a successful 40 year old woman, but my emotional life is a continual living hell because of my childhood. Do not knowingly inflict such misery on a child, to do so would be unforgivable.

asecretlemonadedrinker · 07/07/2011 18:20

as I said on the other thread - run run run run. Imagine you had a child. Imagine something happened to you. This child would be raised by this abusive fuck. Imagine dropping this child off to him every other weekend, knowing he was an abusive fuck. Please leave

DialMforMummy · 07/07/2011 18:24

Having a baby does not ruin your life, staying with such a man does.
I don't think you should be staying with this man because he is grinding down your confidence it seems.
Sorting your personal life out should be a priority over TTC. Having a baby is a wonderful experience but it's hard work and tiring sometimes so you need to be strong to face such a challenge.
Good luck.

pigletmania · 07/07/2011 18:37

You need help with getting your confidence, self esteem back and to be assertive enough to leave and start loving yourself again, having a baby should be the last thing on your mind. You seem to want one for selfish reasons, your H is not even that keen, that is not a good basis in which to bring up a child. Yes you will always have that tie to your H though your child.

FetchezLaVache · 07/07/2011 18:37

Curly, I'm afraid you are being incredibly naive. I've spent the last few years watching a good friend of mine go through the mill at the hands of her ex, who is using her DD to control her and push her buttons. The worst thing about it is knowing that she has got this awful man in her life until the day either one of them dies. The man you described in the other thread is certain to want to use any child you have with him to get revenge on you for refusing to dance to his tune.